Alina Oprea • 28 December, 2023 at 10:16 AM
In 2023, only 6% of electricity consumption represents renewable energy in the Republic of Moldova. 54% of this is wind, 34% - photovoltaic energy and 6% each - hydro and biogas-based energy. The last two are continuous and reliable sources and do not depend on the vagaries of the weather. According to the data of the Ministry of Energy, the largest unused capacity is in the case of biogas-based energy, informs the state news agency of the Republic of Moldova, MOLDPRES.
The Republic of Moldova has committed to increasing the share of electricity produced from renewable sources to at least 30% of the year's electricity consumption in 2030.
In total, the Republic of Moldova consumes about 4 million MWh of electricity annually. Of this, almost 45% is consumed in households and only 15% in industry.
This consumption structure generates consumption peaks of around 700 MW in the morning and evening when everyone is getting ready for a day's work or returning home and plugging in all the appliances they may need. On the other hand, at night the consumption drops to 180 MW.
Thus, according to the Ministry of Energy, Moldova cannot integrate into the energy system more wind energy than the minimum consumption at night and more solar energy than the maximum consumption during the day.
If the country were to produce more green energy than it can consume, it would go to the network of Romania or Ukraine either for free or Moldova would have to pay for the imbalance of the system. If less energy is generated than is consumed, it will flow from neighboring countries, but at an "unplanned exchange price", i.e. more expensive, writes MOLDPRES.